Hailing ‘new era with Arab world,’ PM vows others will follow in UAE’s steps
Announcing details of the historic agreement for full diplomatic relations between Israel and the United Arab Emirates, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday night hailed what he called a “new era of Israeli relations with the Arab world,” and said other deals with Arab countries would follow.
He also denied that Israel would stop seeking annexation of West Bank land, seemingly contradicting Israel’s joint statement made with the US and the UAE.
In a televised address delivered hours after US President Donald Trump announced the agreement on Twitter, Netanyahu said that the UAE, Israel and the US had agreed on “a full and formal peace” in a phone call Thursday.
According to Netanyahu, there will be a “full” exchange of embassies, ambassadors, economic exchanges, direct flights and more. “Together, with our joint strengths, we can bring a great future for our peoples and our region,” he added, saying the countries would share their superior technological knowledge for mutual benefit.
“This is very important for our economy, the regional economy and our future,” the prime minister said.
Portraying himself as the latest in the line of prime ministers to sign historic peace deals with Arab states, following Menachem Begin with Egypt (1979) and Yitzhak Rabin with Jordan (1994), Netanyahu said it was an “honor…after years of my making efforts, dreaming of it, working toward it.”
Earlier Thursday afternoon, a White House announcement said the leaders of the US, Israel and the UAE “spoke today and agreed to the full normalization of relations between Israel and the United Arab Emirates.”
Israeli and UAE delegations will meet in the coming weeks to sign bilateral agreements regarding investment, tourism, direct flights, security and the establishment of reciprocal embassies, it said.
Announcing the deal, US President Donald Trump wrote on Twitter: “HUGE breakthrough today. Historic Peace Agreement between our two GREAT friends, Israel and the United Arab Emirates!”
Netanyahu said he has been working toward the goal of normalization with the Gulf since 2009.
“I always thought it was possible… I have been doing this constantly, for years,” he said, noting his contacts with Sudan and other states that don’t have official ties with Israel.
“This deal shows the huge change in how Israel is seen in the Middle East,” he stressed, saying that “many more” Arab countries will establish ties with Israel in its wake.
Netanyahu asserted he had proven wrong those who said it would be impossible to forge peace with an Arab country without making peace with the Palestinians first.
“I say to the residents of the United Arab Emirates: Salam Aleikum. Shalom Aleichem. Peace be to you, and us,” Netanyahu concluded his prepared remarks.
Later answering questions, Netanyahu insisted that that the agreement was not made in exchange for anything, and said there is “no change in my plans for annexation, [in] full coordination with the US.”
This seemed to contradict the joint address issued by the White House on the matter, which clearly stated that “Israel will suspend declaring sovereignty over areas outlined in the President’s Vision for Peace.”
Netanyahu claimed that Trump had only requested a “temporary” suspension of annexation plans and that “temporary means temporary.” He said he was committed to sovereignty, and will “never give up on our rights in our land.
“Just as I brought peace, I will bring sovereignty [to the West Bank],” he vowed, adding that “nobody ever believes my promises” but that “I always prove them wrong.”
Asked if he supports a two state solution, Netanyahu said he was committed to the Trump peace plan, calling it the most realistic plan since 1967, while at the same time refusing to define what a Palestinian entity would be.
In response to his comments, a senior UAE official told The Times of Israel that Abu Dhabi remained committed to the establishment of a Palestinian state and the terms of the Arab Peace Initiative.
“The UAE, US and Israel have agreed on suspending Israeli annexation of Palestinian territories in order to establish bilateral relations towards a stable and peaceful region via dialogue and diplomacy,” Hend al-Otaiba, the director of strategic communications of the Emirati Foreign Ministry stressed.
Speaking to reporters after his own announcement, Trump suggested that more diplomatic breakthroughs between Israel and its Muslim neighbors in the region were expected.
“Things are happening that I can’t talk about,” the US president said.